I used the coupons listed above with each item and the $10/$50 I earned from Transaction #1.

Shop Rite doubles the face value of coupons up to $1. For example, .$50 doubles to $1 and $.75 doubles to $1. $1 max. can come off with each coupon. In the case of the rice cakes and yogurts, they were better than free because the Qs doubled to $1 off even though they were only $.77.

Out of Pocket: $44.06.

Earned:

$26.72 in Baby Bucks

$18.61 in Family points

$1 credit from Upromise for Beech Nut purchase

For less than $100 I walked out of the grocery store with a shopping cart overflowing with groceries! I got a TON of "essentials" that I won't have to shop for again any time soon. Good luck with Shop Rite this week!

I never gave our Shop Rite stores the time of day when they were still Klein's. I was lured in by Shop Rite's Grand Opening sales when ownership changed and I've been a frequent shopper there ever since!

Here are some helpful hints and tricks to saving the MOST at Shop Rite:

4. While at Upromise, select their monthly eCoupons. This way you save even more on products you purchase.

5. Register your Shop Rite card with CellFire. Cellfire offers FREE eCoupons that come off with a swipe of your card. These can be combined with sales AND manufacturer coupons for additional savings.

6. Register with Shop Rite Family. It's a FREE points program that give you credit for many, many popular products you may purchase. You can redeem the points for FREEBIES such as Redbox movies, picture prints, movie tickets, and MORE!

7. Optional- it's not mandatory but it sure helps me save A LOT OF TIME- register with The Grocery Game and choose Shop Rite as your list store. For $1.25 per week, the Grocery Game will give you a list of the BEST deals at Shop Rite and any applicable coupons that might apply. You save well over the $1.25 each week and spend literally minutes just browsing "the list" and not the entire sale circular.

Only recently have I found Einstein Bros Bagels (no, I haven't been living under a rock!) and I AM HOOKED! Good thing too because from February 1st through 7th you can redeem this coupon for a FREE Bagel & Schmear!

I went to Shop Rite this afternoon and on the way back I ran into Qdoba to pick up lunch. I used my coupon from here and a FREE chips & salsa Q from my Entertainment book.

I'm back to report that this was a steal of a deal! I ordered the FREE chips & salsa and got a Craft 2 meal; taco and tortilla soup. I purchased a regular soda and paid just $1.69 for everything!

While at Qdoba I discovered that they have some super offers! They have a Qdoba card. It's a plastic card and reminds me of one of the grocery store frequent shopper cards. You earn points with entree purchases. Upon registering the card online, your account is credited with a FREE regular chips & salsa!

I'm not sure if this is a regional thing but if you visit the Bel Air, MD store on Mondays, you earn double points.

Also at the Bel Air, MD store on Tuesdays through Thursdays students (must show I.D.) earn freebies too!

A while back I received an email to join Pop-Tarts Sprinklings. I registered but wasn't quite sure at the time what it entailed. I figured it wouldn't hurt to give it a try.

So... I'm here today to report that it's a reallllly neat program! Since joining, I've received FREE product coupons and samples of new Pop-Tart flavors in the mail. We recently received the new grape Pop-Tarts and my son LOVED them!

Baltimore Research is currently recruiting for the following study. Please contact our office at 410-583-9991 between 5:30 and 7:30pm. to qualify and schedule your interview.Marble Study: We are currently recruiting men and women, ages 25-50, who have suffered from eye problems such as itchy, irritated, dry or red eyes, and have used over-the-counter eye drops in the past twelve months. Those who use contact lenses will not qualify for this particular study. If qualified, you could earn $120 CASH for a small homework assignment and 30-minute in-person interview.

The evening staff is in charge of recruiting for this study.

Please call 410-583-9991 to be screened for the Marble Study.

While I don't qualify (I wear contacts) this may be the perfect study for someone out there! Good luck!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

I was at Toys R Us (yes, again!) on Tuesday to pick up a toothbrush and toothpaste for the baby. I had a 20% off coupon and a $5 off $25. Since I knew I'd spend about $6 anyway, I decided to try to stretch them both and see what else I could get.

Yet again, I scored big! I walked out of there with several bags and only spent $15!

I added on the Johnson's Buddies soaps at the end to get my total to $25 (so I could use my $5 off coupon). I had (6) $1 manufacturer coupons from the Sunday paper and a display at the doctor's office. Priced at $.99 each, the Buddies were FREE with the coupons and just what I needed to get my extra $5 off.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that they qualified for this month's Toys R Us baby sale (through 1/21). They are having a promo Buy any 2 Johnson's (priced $5.29 - $8.29), Get 1 FREE. While the Buddies don't fall in that price range, they rang up as the 3rd one being FREE, making them a money maker!

When I say money maker, it doesn't literally mean the store gave me cash back. It means that the overage was applied to the other items I purchased thus reducing my total out of pocket expense and saving me money.

So here's the money making breakdown:

(6) Buddies, $.99 each, $5.94

Store promo B2, G1, minus (2) @ $.99, -$1.98

(6) manufacturer coupons, minus $1 each, -$6

Total for the Buddies: (-$2.04)

I purchased the last Buddies soaps that were at the Bel Air, MD store but if you shop at another TRU / BRU, this may be a great deal for you too!

Do you blog and also SAVE? I do (uh, obviously) and if so, this might interest you too!

I was excited this morning to discover that ING Direct will be announcing a new promotion:

"We’re looking for a one-year savings commitment, with a minimum of one blog post each month detailing the trials and victories of your savings endeavor. If we choose you, we’ll add $200 a month to your savings. We’ll announce the application details via Twitter, Facebook and We, the Savers."Notice the part I bolded? $200 per month for FREE? Check back at their blog, We, the Savers or follow them on Facebook or Twitter. The application details should be out soon!

Friday, January 15, 2010

Use this coupon at Bath & Body Works to snag a FREE Signature Travel Size Item with Any Purchase. Valid through January 27th.

Since the Yellow Sale is still going on you could probably pick up something small for cheap or just get a $1 gift box to fulfill your any purchase. Then walk out with a $5 travel size item and a gift box for just a buck!

The Disney Store online has Disney Princess Party Favor Bags in Sets of 4 for just $6.99. These are pre-filled with goodies such as wands, rings, stickers, etc. The $6.99 price is reduced down from $19.50! About $2 / party favor bag is pretty good!

This is actually a decent coupon. The coupons that are generally published in my local Sunday paper coupons are always $1 off 2. Well, we don't use that much mayo (to buy 2) and it's still just $.50 off on each jar (picky aren't I?)When I use this $.75 coupon at my grocery store that doubles it'll be $1.50 off one jar. And of course, I'll wait until it's on sale so I can get it super-cheap! :)

Remember, click your browser's back button 2 - 3 times if you need to get 2 prints!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Yes, I am well aware that the holiday season was just here but in case you need more toys...

Through January 25th, FisherPrice.com is offering free shipping with any order made in their online store. If you combine this with their current 60% off sale items, you could snag some good buys on birthday gifts you may need throughout the year.

So long Uno's! I will miss redeeming your $5 coupons I used to clip from the Sunday paper.

I am an Uno Insider (basically I signed up to receive their emails). I received this email yesterday:

It's with sadness we write to let you know that our Uno® on 601 Baltimore Pike has closed.

As a whole, Uno is doing great things: we've been acknowledged as• America's Healthiest Chain by Health magazine• Top Four Family Friendliest Chains in America by Parents magazine• Home of Guilt Free Pizza by Prevention magazine• Top Value by WalletPop.com

Sometimes, locations just don't work, even with great guests like you. That's the case here. Our entire staff will sincerely miss serving you and thank you for sharing your time (and appetite) with us.

As a convenience to you, we've taken the liberty of updating your preferred location to Harborplace, Pratt Street Pavilion, 2nd Floor, Baltimore. If that doesn't work, you can change your preference by logging in and updating your profile. Either way, you'll continue to receive all those Insider benefits like:• Sneak Peeks• Thank You Parties• Insider Rewards• Free birthday gift• Insider feedback on all things 'Uno'

If you wish, you can always opt out of the club by clicking here.

You have been a friend to us, and we appreciate it. You have our gratitude for your loyal patronage and support as an Uno Insider. We hope you will take that loyalty with you to another local Uno. We guarantee they'll take care of you as well as we tried to.

Congratulations to you both! Check your inboxes and get back to me with your address so I can get your goodies out in the mail! Thanks again for entering and stay tuned for another giveaway later this month!

"Sorry, the person you are looking for is not here yet ... Sorry for the inconvenience but your buddy doesn't have a profile, or your buddy's profile hasn't been moved to Bebo yet. (We're still in the process of uprading all the AIM profiles to Bebo.) Please check back soon."

Icyhot108 - Please contact me in the next 48 hours. A comment on the blog will work. If I don't hear from you I'll draw 2 new winners on Sunday.

Congratulations Sphinx63! I just sent you an email requesting your mailing address. Please get back to me and I'll get your FREE cereal coupon out in the mail!

Again... thanks to all who participated. Stay tuned for another Giveaway later this month!

Click here to save $.75 on the purchase of any half-gallon of Silk Soy Milk. The coupon goes right to printing. Wait until your store has Silk on sale and then use this. Also, if you store doubles or triples this should be really cheap if not FREE!

Don't forget that tomorrow, January 8th I'll be plugging in all the names for the General Mills Cereal and Pepperidge Farms Goldfish giveaways into random.org to choose winners! If you'd still like to enter, be sure to do it today!

Saturday, January 2, 2010

I mentioned my love of Toys R Us (TRU) before (here and here) and today again I remembered how much I reallly do like the store!

I received the latest Babies R Us (BRU) sales flier w/ coupons (flier applies to our TRU store also) in the mail last week. I actually received 2; one in my married and one in my maiden name. Not sure why but I'm not complaining!

I received several $5 off $25 coupons in the mail and also the $3 off $3 coupons from having the kids' birthdays registered (remember I mentioned the birthday registry here).

I split up my purchases into 2 transactions that were at least $25 each so I could utilize my $5 off $25 coupons.

(1) Happy Baby organic yogurt melts, on sale "spend $10 get $2 off instantly." This is a good deal making the organic baby snacks the same price as Gerber and Beech-Nut.

(4) 2 oz Balmex diaper rash creams, regular price $3.29. Used $1 off ALL diaper rash products coupon from the TRU sales flier and (4) $2 manufacturer coupons from various parenting magazines. Paid $.29 each out of pocket and will submit for (4) $1 rebates through Caregiver's Marketplace. Profiting about $.71 on each.

Through tomorrow January 3rd, TRU/BRU also has Earth's Best Chlorine-Free Diapers for just $5 per pack (limit 3). This is a pretty good price for diapers. I didn't pick up any because I still have a few packs of Huggies on hand and have been getting them for $3 - $4 each. But if you need diapers,$5 is surely a good deal!

My local store also had Kashi cereal- strawberry and Honey Sunshine near the registers for $1.98 per box. I have a few $1 coupons but I don't need cereal right now. Less than $2 for Kashi is an awesome deal too if you need it!

Yup, I'm saying it! I usually don't post "negative reviews" but I was completely disappointed with these 2 places this morning. I had never been to either one before and will not be returning.

The hubby and "Miller boys" went out hunting bright and early this morning and Noel is with his father. Sooo.... the baby and I had a girls morning out.

We stopped at the Jarrettsville VFW Flea Market first. There were a total of 5 vendor tables and all but one of them had "junk." When I say junk, I mean faded pastel Home Interiors-type decor, dingy Christmas decorations, yellowed light switch covers, pieces of broken chain, used pocket knives, etc.

The solitary non-junk table was occupied by a friendly Cookie Lee/Avon rep. She was offering 50% off all the items on her table. A nice pair of sterling silver Cookie Lee earrings were $12 but I didn't need another pair of s.s. hoops!

Our next stop was The Big Tarp in Forest Hill. There were signs saying they were under renovation and it was clearly evident! There was a disorganized, trashy mess everywhere!

There were the typical flea market-type vendors such as Amish baked goods, pet items, candles, batteries/tools/guys stuff, Ravens & sports gear, and then there were just junky booths with stuff I can't imagining anyone wanting.

I entered both places looking for a good steal but left both empty handed and bummed....

After The Big Tarp the baby girl and I headed to Toys R Us (and boy did they cheer me up!) Stay tuned for some Toys R Us STEALS!

Friday, January 1, 2010

Many months ago the family and I were at our local Ikea store on a Wednesday night. Everything in the "as-is" section was an additional 50% off. At that time I picked up this large, gray, flannel-like sofa cushion cover for just $2.50:

FRONT

BACK

The sofa cushion cover reminded me of something I could use for a new dog bed. I've had it sitting on my shelf all this time... until tonight...

The bags were $.75 each for a total of $4.50. I left each bundle of "snow" as it was (i.e. I didn't pull it apart) and gently stuffed it into the cushion cover. The 6 bags were perfect! Not too much, not too little, just enough stuffing!

With stuffing in place, I zipped up the cushion cover and laid my new dog bed on the living room floor. In less than 30 seconds our dog Dahlia (a.k.a. Doo-Dee-Doo) ) found her way to her new bed!

What do you think? Does she like it?

*Frugal tip- As I was sitting, admiring the dog on her new bed, I had an "ah hah!" moment (a little too late I might add, but no biggie).

Just today I put one of my son's bed comforters that was looking a little worn in the bag for Goodwill. I could have easily opened the end and re-used the batting from the comforter to stuff the dog bed. I wouldn't have had to purchase the "snow" and would have only paid a total of $2.50 for the bed!

About Me

I'm a happily married wife and mother of three. My husband is the best and my kids are wonderful!
I work 30 hours a week and have an eBay store.
When I'm not working, or wrangling the hubby or kids, I'm likely working out my next "steal." I like to squeeze in a little blogging time here and there to share all the steals I've found.
Thanks for stopping by!